People who run swear they can’t live without it, an idea that may be baffling to those of us with a natural aversion to cardio (ahem).

But science is on the side of the cardio-enthused. Running has incredible proven benefits that go well beyond the cardiovascular and fitness related. Besides being a muscle builder, running has also been shown to lift depression and improve mood.

For parents (and stay-at-home parents, in particular), this makes running one of the best things you can do for your mental health.

Unless you’re stressing about doing it with your kids.

The bottom line is that many parents don’t have childcare and those that do spend those precious hours trying to make a return on that investment by putting in hours at the office.

So how do you get into a running routine when you have littles to cart along with you? We talked to some running parents to get their expert insights.

 

Get Out During Peak Happy Hours

Your ability to get in a run every day depends not just on your motivation, but on the moods and attitudes of the tiny passengers, you’re bringing with you. Every kid has their peak times for adaptability and those hours of the day when nothing is going to keep them in a stroller.

Plan your runs strategically, and try to find the overlap between your peak motivation hours and your kid’s best and most cooperative moods.

Then run like the wind, mama.

 

Invest in a Sturdy Jogging Stroller

 

If your kids are too little to keep up with you, a good jogging stroller like the joovy Zooms is going to be your next must-have. Get one with pneumatic tires and good shock absorption to handle bumpy roads, and make sure it’s equipped with an extra-large canopy too.

If you have two kids, double jogging strollers are a little harder to come by, but they’re out there (and so worth it).

Shop Joovy Jogging Strollers

 

Start Them Young

Despite their ability to thwart even the best of plans, kids really do thrive on routines. The sooner you get your kids acclimated to running with you (and the more consistent you are), the smoother things will go.

Try to go on a set schedule every day, and if they’re old enough, always remind them so they know to mentally prepare themselves for the next morning.

 

Be Easy Going About It

One of the worst things you can do when you run with kids goes into it with a hell-or-high-water militant attitude. Things happen, kids get into funks, and it may not always go as you had planned.

Set out every day on your run with an open mind, and be okay with whatever needs to happen. It’ll keep you from stressing out, and your kids from resenting the runs.

 

Give Older Kids Other Options

Sometimes big kids aren’t so cool with riding in a jogger while mom has all the fun. If you have older kids, give them the option to run with you or ride their bikes. Balance bikes and tricycles are a great way to get bigger kids mobile with you and help them keep your pace up.

Shop joovy Balance Bike
Shop joovy Tricycoo
Shop joovy Kids Helmets

 

Make It an Experience

The run is your experience, but how can you make it more engaging for your kids? Can you take them running somewhere new and exciting? Can you combine it with a park playdate?

You’re in this together. Keep kids from feeling like they’re just stuck along for the ride by making it about them too. Stop and look at nature. Skip rocks on the pond in the park. Start a loop that ends at a playground or a place to eat.

Make it about more than just your own mental health and exercise — make running about having an experience together.